BUILD A SCRIPT

Build A Sitcom or Comedy Drama From Zero to First Draft in 8 Weeks

with DAVE COHEN and ADAM LAVIS

I really enjoyed Dave’s course and found it very productive.  It’s like having a writing partner with tons of experience, making you face things that you might otherwise gloss over, offering constructive suggestions, and occasionally administering a small pat on the back.  It’s the guide, philosopher and friend of sitcom courses. 

William Van Dyck – Winner 2021 Pozzitive Sitcom Script Competition, 2023 Sitcom Mission

Five years ago the world shut down. My immediate response was to come up with a course to write an entire script from scratch in just eight weeks.

Build A Sitcom was an instant hit and I’ve been running regular courses ever since. In 2022 it became Build A Script, to acknowledge how comedy drama had become an integral part of the BBC commissioning process.

Mindful of the fact that even the most detailed script analysis is still based only on the opinion of one person, I decided it was time to demand a second opinion.

ADAM LAVIS is one of the most respected comedy script readers in the country.

How do I know? Because I often hear feedback from new writers about script readers they’ve worked with before and Adam’s name consistently appears as the best.

Think you can make it to a finished first draft in eight weeks? In that case you’re ready for our tried and tested Build A Script course.

You’re going to write the first draft of a sitcom or comedy drama in EIGHT WEEKS – and every step of the way you’ll be getting feedback from TWO expert script readers.

Once a fortnight you email us the work you’ve done. Every fortnight we meet you online with thoughts and notes about the work you’ve already done, and how best to continue.

You might not finish it… But you’ll have experienced writing to a deadline, and if you want to be a professional writer that’s a vital skill to learn.

You might finish it and never wish to show it to anyone… Okay, but you’ve proved to yourself that you can write a sitcom episode in a reasonable time-frame. Your next one will be easier and should be better.

You might think it’s quite good, but not good enough… That’s okay, you’ll have time to improve it ahead of the Writersroom deadline.

You might think it’s brilliant… You’ll still need to rewrite it. Nobody’s first draft is ever that good.

  • The course begins on Friday 17 October 2025. We meet FOUR TIMES online during the course.
  • WEEK ZERO We’ll send you details of how we’re going to operate every fortnight.
  • FRIDAY 17 October We send out your first homework assignment
  • WEEKS 1-2 We start with the idea.
  • WEEKS 3-4 You build the characters and the stories.
  • WEEKS 5-6 Then the outline.
  • WEEKS 7-8 You build your episode from nothing into a first draft script.

Course price is £450. Email dave@davecohen.org.uk if you’re interested.

If you’ve written a number of scripts but feel ready to create one with full on expert guidance then join our

BUILD A SCRIPT ADVANCED COURSE

Everything from the above course plus additional weekly notes and regular one-to-one contact – Course price is £975. Email dave@davecohen.org.uk if you’re interested.

Not sure you can create a whole script in eight weeks? Then you’re ready to take our Introductory Build A Script course.

BUILD A SCRIPT INTRODUCTORY COURSE

Going from zero to script in eight weeks is very hard! If you’re relatively new to comedy writing you might want to consider the introductory course. This takes you through all the steps from idea to outline, without finishing the script. Although there will be scene writing exercises based on your characters and stories.

Course price is £299. Email dave@davecohen.org.uk if you’re interested.

Praise for Build A Sitcom

I’m stunned at the depth of your notes and the speed at which you return them. Your feedback is always fair and when I read your notes each week, I find myself nodding in agreement. I’d recommend the course to anyone wanting to write a sitcom from scratch, whether or not they have writing experience

Eleanor Hayward

I’ve loved the course so far. I’m finding the specific notes on homework extremely helpful, and that they’re in addition to the general notes and general instructions is really good. You’re a supportive teacher and in my experience at least half of this writing game is confidence and you encourage us to push on.

Fiona Faith Ross

Being taken step by step, to tight time frames, has given a brilliant insight into the process and how difficult it is. If anyone was thinking of trying their hand at Sitcom writing, they would do well to try your course.

Lee Dixon

Working through lockdown was the most stressful time of my career. Having this sitcom to do in down time gave me an escape, I didn’t burden my family with work and the deadlines kept my mind occupied so thank you, if this course achieved nothing else it got me through covid

Steven Mucklow